the memorial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCCN-10-09-05-MI

September 7, 2010

Media invitation

UNVEILING OF THE WINNING DESIGN FOR THE CANADIAN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL

Canada’s Capital Region — The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF), the National Capital Commission (NCC) and the Government of Canada invite the media to the unveiling of the winning design concept for the Canadian Firefighters Memorial.

Date:               Thursday, September 9, 2010

Time:              10:30 am

Location:        Capital Infocentre, 2nd floor
                        90 Wellington, Ottawa, Ontario

In August, the five finalist teams presented their concepts to a jury of experts. Each proposal was evaluated according to design and execution criteria and ceremonial requirements. The jury considered comments from a technical committee, members of the Advisory Committee on Planning, Design and Realty of the NCC and the general public before making its final decision on the five concepts submitted for this Canada-wide competition.

The monument will be located at LeBreton Flats, in the core of Canada’s Capital on land provided by the NCC and should be unveiled in September 2012. It will be built thanks to the fundraising efforts of the Foundation and funding from the Government of Canada.

The Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation is a registered charitable organization dedicated to honouring the memory of Canada’s fallen firefighters. It comprises members of the Canadian Fire Service and other interested citizens who volunteer their time. For information regarding the Canadian Firefighters Memorial, please visit: www.cfff.ca.

For more information, the public may contact the NCC at 613-239-5000, 1-800-465-1867, 613-239-5090 (TTY) or 1-866-661-3530 (toll-free TTY) or visit the NCC’s website at www.canadascapital.gc.ca.

Media Information:

The National Capital Commission, which is responsible for major commemorations in the nation’s capital, allocated land for the CFM in the LeBreton Flats area of Ottawa close to the new War Museum, just to the west of Parliament Hill. This area is significant in the fire history of our nation’s capitol as it is the area where the Ottawa-Hull conflagration of 1900 crossed over from Hull on the morning of April 26, 1900 after destroying 1300 buildings. On the Ottawa side of the river the fire razed 1400 buildings and killed seven. At the end of the day the fire was stopped from spreading downtown near the exact spot the monument will be located. The monument will also be located close to the spot where Captain John Lowry of the Ottawa Fire Department was killed in the line of duty on August 12, 1896 on Booth St.
 
In 1962 the National Capitol Commission expropriated the LeBreton Flats area land but plans for its use went undecided for years. Until the new War Museum was built in 2004 the area remained virtually vacant. Soil, contaminated from years of heavy industry, has recently been removed clearing the way for new development. The N.C.C. now has plans underway to revitalize the area and include housing, parkland, cultural institutions, open areas for festivals and monuments including - The Canadian Firefighters Memorial.